New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-31
DESTR NAVAL CRITICISM

manned Bureau Of Navigation. Ordinarily that
Office has little occupation. It's staff will have
to he increased if it be charged with the re-
sponsibility of correcting the mistakes in Sec
rotary Whitncy's last annual report. The &C
compshed marine engineer, whose strict
urcs upon the Sccrctarys misleading COM
parsons between tho Atlanta and English
built cruisers have already appeared in The
TRIBUNE, returns to the assault this morning.
lie takes up the official comparison between
the Dolphin and the English dispatch boats, and
does not leave the !implng Secretary leg to
stand on. More direct, positive and destruc-
tive criticism it would be difficult to furnish.
Tho Secretary reported the maximum speed
Of the Dolphin as "15.11 knots, running
light" and that of the Alacrity as 1895. This
left a deficiency Of 2.S4 knots on the part OF
tho Dolphin and seemed complete dcmonstra-
ton of her infcriority. Our correspondent
proves from Captain Bellsnap's dispatch to the
Department that the Dolphn's maximum speed
was 1890 in place Of 1911, and that its mean
draught was only 1-2 inches less than the
designed draught It was the Alacrity that was
cumming light " when she made 1895 knots
Instead of - feet, the designed draught for
displacement of 400 tons, she drew only 10
feet 10 inches. When the correction is made
for the proper load draught, her speed is re-
duced from 1895 to 1872. When the Dolphin's
spced is corrected for load !draught, the de-
ficicncy of speed is practically wiped out. The
Alacrity's speed is 1920 and the Dolphn's
1908. This minute fraction of decimal
would disappear entirely if the dispatch boats
were to use the same quality Of coal and be
matched over n measured mile
Equally misleading is the Sccrctarys COM
parison between the Dolphin and the Surprise.
The English vessels speed was stated to he
us knots. Our correspondent reduces these
figures to 5.1 knots without reference to the
load draught, and estimates that her possible
succd is IA knots or less than the Dolphn's.
That he is correct in his calculations Is shown
by the action of the Admiralty in converting
her into a gun-boat and sending her TO for
clgn station yet this vessel, condemned as
failure in England, is paradcd in Secretary
Whitncy's report as understanding the Dolphin.
Our correspondent does not refer to the Milan.
hut it is clear from her superior horsepower
that she has larger engines. What Secretary
Whitney does not seem TO understand Is that
speed depends upon the size of the ship rs well
rs the horsepower Of the engines. Speed and
displacement are practically the same; and
hence it is an outrage to compare the speed
Of "A big ship with that Of a little one. Let the
whole interior Of a ship he given up to ma
chncly and engines and then run her light, and
great speed can hc obtained. But obviously 1t
is incxpcdicnt to bIlld Navy exclusively of
marine engines designed for spurts OF SPEED III
smooth walcr over the measured mile. Sccrc-
tary Whitney has much to learn before he can
discuss technical questions OF naval con>tiuc-
ton. Hi, conclusions are apt To show signs OF
structural weakness The celebrated intch-
pcncc Office OF the Navigation Bureau should
bc allowed to revise them.